Electric scrubbing machine



Oct. 4, 1927. R. E. HENDRICKS ELECTRIC SCRUBBING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25.1926 Patented Oct. 4; 1927.

UNITED STATES ROYAL E. HENDRICKS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC SCRUBBING MACHINE.

Application filed February 25, 1926. Serial No. 90,508.

This invention relates to electric machines for scrubbing or polishingof floors byV means of revolving brushes, and the objects of theinvention are to provide such a machine which Will be portable in themanner of a vacuum cleaner' and which will effectually polish and scrubfloors, particularly marble and tile iioors with water and soap Whileretaining the Water within the confines of the machine so that moppingup will be avoided and the floor will be clean and substantially freefrom water after the machine has passed over it.

In the drawings accompanying this application I show one embodiment ofmy invention tho it is to be understood that any variations ofconstruction as fall within the spirit of the invention are intended tobe covered in my appendedclaims:

The drawings show in Figure 1 a side elevation of my machine with aportion of its side wall broken away tov show vits interior mechanism,in Figure 2 a plan view of Figure 1 with handle omitted, and in Figure 3an enlarged sectional detail of the outer rubber sealing strip whichextends clear around the machine. 4

In further detail the machine comprises a rectangular casing 1 closed ontop and sides.

and open at the bottom.

This casin is preferably formed of sheet metal and as an outwardlyprojecting flange 2 at its lower edge overAwhich is sprung a heavy softrubber grooved ring or endless band 3, as best shown in Figure 3, andwhich band is adapted to carry a part of the weight of the machine andform a flexible sealing edge againstThe floor.-

Supporting the major part of the weight however are four rollers 4preferably ball bearing and shod each with a heavy rubber tire.

At the forward end of the machine is mounted a cylindrical revolvingbrush 5. This brush is of wire for scrubbing tile fioors, but isinterchangeable with other brushes for polishing by simply removing thepin 6 by which it is secured to a shaft 7 carried in bearings (notshown) in the sides of the machine, and whereupon the shaft maybe.withdrawn.

The brush is arranged to bear against the floor and is driven in thedirection indicated by the arrow through means of an electric motor 9belted at 10 to a pulley 11 secured to one end of the brush shaft 7.

Y The terminals 12 of the motor are connected to a suitable electricsocket cord in operation and to manipulate the machine a handle 13 isprovided which is pivotally yoked at 14 to the sides of the machinecasing.

Water, or soapy Water, is fed to the revolving brush from a reservoirtank 15 carried on the handle. This tank is a long cylinder with atubular sleeve 16 extending thorugh it so that it may be slipped overthe handle as shown and secured by any suitable means such as aremovable pin 17.

The reservoir tank 15 is provided at its upper end with a filling cap 18and at its lower end with an outlet valve 19 from which extends a rubberhose 2O to the forward end of the machine where it connects by means ofa union 21 to an L 22 extending into the casing to a transverse pipe 23capped at both ends and perforated along its length so as to drip waterto the revolving brush 5 upon opening the valve 19.

'An auxiliary handle 30 is secured to the tank 15 for one hand of theoperator while the otherl holds the extreme end of the main handle 13,and to conveniently operate the valve for control of the water to thebrush a pivoted spring actuated grip 31 is provided on the handle 30connected by a rod 22 to the valve so that the valve will always beunder control and the valve will always shut off when the grip isreleased.

In revolving at a high speed against the floor the brush will of coursethrow water behind it and to control this Water a battle plate 23 ispositioned within the casing so as to guide the thrown water over aslanted guard wall 24 to fall into an open tray or drawer 25.

This drawer 25 is slidably supported for rearward removal from thecasing and retained in place by a latch 26, so that upon releasing thelatch the tray may be taken out and emptied as occasion requires.

To the forward side of the slanted wall 24 This squeegee extends thefull width of the easing inside and is arranged to yieldingly pressagainst the floor and acts as a shovel for the water in which the brushis operating and which is thrown up over its face into the tray.

In operation the soft rubber strip 3 forms a. perfect seal against thefloor to retain a pool of water within the casing while the squeegee byits cleaning or scraping action insures a clean floor free from pools ofwater after the machine has passed over it.

Also it should be observed, that while the machine is operating thewater forms a freely skidding surface against the soft 'rubber edge 8 sothat the machine turns in every direction with greatest ease.

The rubber edge 3 being an endless band symmetrical from the groove toboth edges may be reversed upon the iange 2 and thereby provide a newedge if it becomes badly worn or cut.

I claim:

1. In an electric scrubbing machine of the character described, a casingclosed at the sides and open at its under side, means Within the casingfor scrubbing the -loor comprising a revolving cylindrical brushextending across the casing, means for feeding water to the brush, anupwardly and rearwardly slanted guard plate secured across the casing atthe rear of the brush, a rubber squeegee strip adjustably mounted onsaid plate, and

a rearwardly slidable water receiving tray adapted to slide with itsforward Aedge under the upper edge of said uard plate.

2. In an electric scru bing machin'eofthe4 character described, a casingclosed at the sides and open at its under side, means within thecasingfor scrubbing the floor, a handle on the machine, means forsupplying water to the brush including a cylindrical tank provided witha tube extending axially there- A though, said handle eXtending' throughsaid tube and a pipe leading from the tank to the brush, a handle onsaid tank cooperating with the first mentioned handle for an operatorsguidance of the machine, a valve on said pipe provided with an extendedcontroll mounted adjacent the handle on the tank whereby the control maybe operated by a hand holding said handle.

ROYAL E. HENDRICKS.

